An ancient form of dance, originating in the Middle East and/or the African continent, of which American "tribal belly dance" and "fusion dance" are offshoots. True belly dance is far older than any modern dance (including ballet) and requires far more skill, artistry, and coordination than any so-called "industrial" or "gothic" dance (neither of which are formally recognized as authentic by any established institution). Belly dance has no relation to "strip tease" or "pole dancing;" its roots and heritage may extend as far back as the time of the Pharoahs, and as such it is one of the oldest forms of dance in the world.

True students of belly dance do NOT do it for the "titillation" of men, and as such they almost never perform at bachelor parties or strip clubs. The type of "dancing" performed at such events - while appearing similar to an ignorant individual - has nothing to do with authentic belly dance.

In the West, women who perform bellydance are often accused of being "sluts," "dirty," "cheap," or "trashy." This is due to two factors: 1) The ignorance of most of the Western world of any cultural phenomenon which is not part of their narrow sphere of understanding, and 2) The refusal of individuals (primarily men, but women as well) to take responsibility for their own opinions and reactions to the imagery of belly dancing and those who perform it.

"I love the art of belly dance; it makes me feel good about myself, and about my body; it is beautiful and graceful; it keeps me in shape, and it's fun."

The most fantasitic and sexy dance in the world.
but also the most mizunderstood dance in the world,
facts about belldancers
1. we are not all fat
2. we are not all sluts
3. it is not called wiggling your butt it's called a shimmy and it't bloody hard to do!
4.we are also not all stick insects
5.It takes talent
6.We don't all work in las vegas clubs
7.it is NOT lapdancing

mark-OMG theres a bellydancer lets go chat her up
Roy-Yeah she is a bellydancer but she is also my local docter
mark-does that mean she is not a slut
Roy-guess so

An ancient dance of the goddess by Arabian women for women. This dance was performed for pregnant women at fertility rites and such. Today, however, bellydance is associated with scantilly-clad women dancing for rich sultans.
This dance includes many undulations of the belly, arms, and pelvis. Visits to Arabic countries include bellydancers performing at many parties, weddings, and cafes, to be enjoyed by both women and men.

an Arab/Middle Eastern form of dance consisting mainly of hip gyrations and undulations, but also some steps. the modernized form popular today is derived from the Classical Egyptian style, said to have been brought to Egypt by the Gawazi gypsies from India, although the actual hip movements are thought to have been present in the middle east for thousands of years. each different tribe and ethnic group had/has their own style. the original name for it is "Raqs Sharqi". the term "belly dance" was givin by Europeans and other whites who did not understand it.

in the Classical Egyptian style, there is the side to side hip gyration, called the maya, which has been popularized by Shakira. there are also belly rolls, which are very hard to learn to do with the abdominal muscles. there is also the shimmy, which can be done with the knees or the hips, and can also be done with the chest. there's also ticking, which is isolating the hips back and forth, side to side.

in the middle east, belly dance is illegal to perform in public in many countries, due to Islam's influence on their laws. in America, it is often performed in Greek restaurants. most Arab people keep the dance alive by women performing it for other women, especially at bridal showers, baby showers and other celebrations and get togethers where men are not present.

"she's a belly dancer, she works at the restaurant with the good gyros downtown"

"she can belly dance, her grandmother taught her"

"they used belly dance as a fertility exercise, and to prepare for childbirth"